Keeping your wood burning appliance clean and well-maintained is a vital part of ensuring it remains as attractive, efficient and safe as possible. Now is the perfect time of year to give your stove a thorough clean in preparation for the winter months. However, it is important to use professional cleaners and the correct equipment, as using the wrong products can result in damage to the stove.

This guide aims to help you understand the best products required to clean your wood burning appliance. Before cleaning, please refer to the instruction manual provided with your appliance. If you do not have the manual it can be downloaded from from our Technical Information page. For more information on where to find the best products to clean your log burner, and how to use them, please contact your local retailer.

Your appliance should be cleaned regularly, according to level of use. Before carrying out any cleaning, ensure that the appliance is cool to the touch. To begin you will need to remove the baffle, firebricks, grate and ashpan, referring to your instruction manual for precise details. There are also videos on www.stovax.tv to help guide you.

Ash Caddy

When emptying the ashpan, it is a good idea to have an ash caddy handy. This ensures that ash can be disposed of safely. De-ash your wood burning appliance at least once a week.

In the summer months; and more regularly when the appliance is being used frequently in the winter, you will need to clean out the ash from inside. To remove ash from inside the appliance, it is easiest to use a vacuum cleaner. The Ashclean system by Stovax is a filtration and collection attachment for vacuums that will protect your cleaner and help you gather the ash safely and effectively.

In order to wipe down the inside of the appliance you will need a brush or scraper. This will loosen any remaining ash and debris, which can then be vacuumed. For the grate and any related parts, a wire brush is the best tool to ensure no debris remains. The firebricks can become fragile after periods of use, so these will need to be handled delicately and cleaned with a soft brush.

Stovax uses the latest Airwash Technology in its wood burning appliances, helping to keep the stove glass as clean as possible. However, you will need to clean your glass from time to time. Stovax offers two Stove Glass Cleaners, a gel and a spray. The gel is not suitable for use on printed glass, but the spray is suitable for all glass types. For more advice on how to clean the glass, watch our video.

Thermolac Brush on Stove Paint

Some types of wood and solid fuel can cause a white residue to form on the glass. If this occurs it should be cleaned off at least once a week during periods of heavy usage. If the liquid cleaning agents recommended do not remove this residue Stovax offer a dry cleaning pad which will help remove heavy stains.

Now that the inside of your appliance is clean, you can turn your attention to the outside surfaces. For them to remain aesthetically pleasing, the outside of your appliance can be retouched with a Thermolac Paint, Colloidal Stove Dressing or Grate Polish, depending on the material and finish. If you are unsure about which product or colour is correct for your model, contact your Stovax retailer and quote the serial number found on the appliance date badge; the location of this can be found in the Instruction manual. Enamel stoves should be cleaned with a soft damp cloth only.

Now you should have the equipment you need to keep your wood burning appliance clean and efficient. As well as this cleaning routine, you should have your chimney swept at least once a year by an approved Chimney Sweep, who can be found on NACS (The National Association of Chimney Sweeps), APICS (The Association of Master Chimney Sweeps Ltd.) or The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. It is also vital to have your appliance serviced by a HETAS approved engineer at least once a year, ideally in late summer.

With the correct cleaning products, a regular service and ensuring your chimney is swept by professionals, you should have no trouble enjoying your Stovax appliance for many years to come.

One response to “Everything You Need to Care for Your Wood Burning Appliance”

Thanks for sharing this information. Regular chimney cleaning and inspection is necessary and to do this activity you can hire professional chimney sweeps, as they possess necessary skills and knowledge for this field. It’s easy to find good professional chimney sweeps to do a proper cleaning. Many times the professional sweep is also a certified chimney inspector as well.